Seated below, Huang He Master had a gloomy expression. A black aura emanated from deep within his brow, and he coughed slightly before speaking in a deep voice.
"We can still think of a way to transport the grain, but the current issue is finding a way to deal with the Three-Phase Old Demon. If we don’t deal with him, none of us will leave here alive!"
In the main seat, An Ruming frowned.
A Demon Ancestor hiding in the shadows was indeed terrifying. If not for this, with the power of many Primordial Spirit Masters, we might be able to cast a Great Power Technique, block the rivers, split the lands, and allow the Divine Strategy Army to retreat with ease.
"It’s a pity that Elder Feng and Elder Taiyin have left. Otherwise, how could that old demon act so arrogantly!"
An Ruming slammed the table beside him fiercely.
There was a strong sense of regret in his voice.
The remaining Primordial Spirit Masters also had dark expressions. Originally, there were nearly ten Primordial Spirit Masters present; now, only three remained.
They were Huang He Master, Wind and Thunder Master, and Ying Huo Master from the Star Palace.
As for the other Primordial Spirit Masters, either they disappeared along with the Dong Shen Ancestor or left on their own, like Taiyin Fairy and Fengshan Sea!
These two completely vanished after the battle in Guangyuan City.
Some Primordial Spirit Masters saw them leave on their own after the Dong Shen Ancestor disappeared.
These two powerful Primordial Spirit Masters, without the suppression of the Dong Shen Ancestor, evidently did not wish to take risks for Daqian anymore.
Meanwhile, another Xingji Master from the Star Palace was slain by a Demonic Primordial Spirit Master from the Blood Shadow Demon Sect.
As for Yinsi Master Chao Mu, he and Grandmaster Tuoba Zhenwu of Beichu fought all the way, disappearing into the depths of the void, feared to have met a grim fate.
The other guest Primordial Spirit Masters either left due to injuries or perished directly.
The battle was quite brutal.
Only three Primordial Spirit Masters remained with intact combat power.
But they were all wounded!
Huang He Master, Ying Huo Master, and those deeply tied to Daqian’s destiny also faced backlash from the heavens and earth, with less than a tenth of their strength remaining.
Wind and Thunder Master was fortunate, retaining most of his combat power, but as a Loose Cultivator Master, he now looked troubled. He couldn’t defeat the Three-Phase Ancestor, let alone the two Heterodox Primordial Spirits the ancestor brought along this time.
If not for saving face, Wind and Thunder Master would have liked to leave.
An Ruming saw the expressions of everyone, feeling anxious. Without these experts’ cover, the remaining four hundred thousand elite troops of the Divine Strategy Army might be lost in this foreign land.
An Ruming didn’t fear death, but to die like this felt too vexing.
As everyone was at a loss, they saw an armored soldier coming in a hurry.
"Reporting to the commander, a Cultivator claiming to be Zhang Daosheng, Grand Scholar Zhang from Haojing City, has come to assist the general!"
"Grand Scholar Zhang? Why is he here?"
Hearing this, An Ruming’s expression shifted, showing some surprise.
He naturally recognized Zhang Jian, but his impression was fixed on ’Champion Scholar,’ ’Civil Servant,’ and the emperor’s close aide.
Huang He Master, however, looked up, his eyes revealing a hint of joy, exclaiming with delight.
"Our savior has come!"
Hearing this, An Ruming couldn’t help but ask, "Elder Huang He, what do you mean? It’s said that Grand Scholar Zhang is just a frail scholar, how can he be a savior?"
Huang He Master shook his head, smiling. "General An, you underestimate Grand Scholar Zhang. He is not just a Primordial Spirit Master, but one from the Tongshan Dao Lineage. If he comes here himself, he must have a way to defeat the enemy!"
"That’s great!"
An Ruming’s eyes lit up, saying immediately, "Bring Grand Scholar Zhang in... no, I will go meet him personally!"
He then rose and went directly to the entrance to greet them, with Huang He Master, Wind and Thunder Master, and Ying Huo Master following.
Wind and Thunder Master had personally seen Zhang Jian’s methods and was feeling more positive about this. Only Ying Huo Master was half-believing, but since Huang He Daoist was so confident, he naturally hoped that Grand Scholar Zhang could truly rescue everyone from their predicament.
At the gate, Zhang Jian was gazing at the military camp, seeing the black aura covering it, with blazing blood energy boiling like a torrent. Once it erupted, it could create a tsunami-like force, enough to disperse even Primordial Spirit Immortal Techniques.
On the other side, in Guangyuan City, blood energy soared, with a Golden Dragon raising its head. The National Destiny Dragon Soul manifested a gigantic Golden Dragon soaring into the sky. However, its scales were battered, barely clinging to life, its Dragon Qi slightly better than Daqian’s.
Moments later, Zhang Jian looked towards the main camp, hearing footsteps approaching from afar.
He then saw An Ruming at the forefront, striding like a dragon or tiger. His body glittered with starlight and boundless vitality, appearing to Zhang Jian’s eyes as a pillar of blood energy reaching the heavens, resonating with a vast star in the deep sky, surrounded by mystical power.
In the half month they hadn’t seen each other, An Ruming’s Star Martial Dao seemed to have improved.
Behind An Ruming were three Cultivators with different auras. Zhang Jian recognized them at a glance, all familiar faces.
From afar, An Ruming’s clear voice called out.
"Hearing that Zhang Mansion Decree has come from afar, I’m delighted. With Scholar Zhang’s assistance, our expeditionary army’s might will greatly increase!"
Seeing the pleased expression of the expeditionary army’s commander, Zhang Jian’s expression shifted slightly.
Zhang Jian smiled and said, "General An, you overpraise me!"
"Scholar Zhang!"
"Fellow Daoist Zhang!"
At this moment, both Huang He Master, Ying Huo Master, and Wind and Thunder Master slightly cupped their hands, looking invigorated.
An Ruming smiled and said, "Scholar Zhang, I have prepared some simple wine in the camp for you, please come inside!"
Zhang Jian nodded, complying easily.
The group entered the tent, with Zhang Jian and An Ruming walking side by side.
An Ruming apparently didn’t know he was the mysterious ’Qinglian Celestial Venerable.’
But that didn’t matter; he would soon find out.
Inside the tent, they sat as hosts and guests. Zhang Jian glanced at the three Primordial Spirit Masters in the camp, with some surprise in his eyes.
Out of a dozen Primordial Spirit Masters from Daqian, only these three remained?
This battle was exceedingly brutal.
And they were Primordial Spirit Masters.
Beings who had achieved Longevity.
Before coming, he had scouted inside Guangyuan City and knew that Beichu’s side also lost several Primordial Spirit Masters. He had expected losses in the Daqian expeditionary army but hadn’t thought it would be this severe.
Zhang Jian then inquired in detail about the battle situation.
"So you’re saying, on Beichu’s side, only the Three-Phase Ancestor and two or three Heterodox Primordial Spirits are left?"
Ying Huo Master nodded and replied.
"Indeed, our Divine Strategy Army was about to capture Guangyuan City. If not for the sect ancestor’s defeat, we would’ve already..."
Ying Huo Master’s face showed deep regret.
But there was nothing to be done. In such a situation, not being targeted by the sects’ True Monarchs was a blessing, dare not ask for more.
The three were somewhat fortunate to have escaped back to the army and been protected by the blood energy, avoiding calamity.
They were better off than the other fallen Primordial Spirit Masters.
Zhang Jian’s heart stirred. This matched the situation he had detected, though Beichu’s depths held not just one Great True Master.
After some thought, Zhang Jian looked at An Ruming and said.
"General An, fellow Daoists, I am already aware of the expedition’s predicament. You just need to retreat; I will stay to delay the Three-Phase Ancestor, ensuring the expeditionary army’s safe departure!"
From the main seat, An Ruming was slightly shocked upon hearing this.
"This... Scholar Zhang, what Magic do you have to stop the tens of thousands of troops chasing from Guangyuan City?"
"I have a Secret Technique called the Five Dragon Technique, which can control the Five Elements. With it, I can rend a chasm hundreds of meters wide and several hundred miles long, temporarily hindering those tens of thousands of Beichu soldiers... The only problem left is the Three-Phase Ancestor. Rest assured, in dealing with this old demon, I have my ways!"
Zhang Jian’s expression remained calm.
However, his eyes glinted with determination.
To contend for the dragon, revealing some strength appropriately was necessary to intimidate the vacillating subordinates.
In this world, only the strong have centripetal force.